Animal-trap.



O. L. KAUFMAN.

ANIMAL TRAP.

11221101111011 FILED APR. 15, 1911.

1 416,799, Patented Dec. 10, 1912.

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earns ANIMAL-TRAP.

Application filed April 15, 1911.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. KAUF- MAN, of Westbrook, in the county'ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Animal-Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to animal traps, and the object of the invention isto produce an animal trap which will seize the animal in. such a way asto crush its body and kill it instantly, thus avoiding any prolongedsuffering.

. My invention is best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawing, in which are shown two diiferent forms of my invention,although I desire it to be understood that other forms may beconstructed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the drawing, Figure 1, is a side elevation of one form of myinvention with a portion in section. Fig. 2, is a rear View showing halfas a central vertical section and half in elevation. Fig. 3,-is a sideelevation of an alternate form of my invention, and, Fig. 4, is an endview of the same.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a base is formed of two side pieces a andunited a bottom piece 6. The upper surfaces of the side pieces arecurved to conform sub stantially with the path of the lowerend of thespring jaw as hereinafter set forth.

On one end of the base is secured. an upright, and on the other end isan upwardly extending abutment. As here shown, the upright is formed byone portion of a housing 6 which is secured to one end of the base,extends over the top of the trap and is secured by the opposite end tothe other end 'of the base. The abutment is formed by the part of thehousing which lies opposite to the upright portion. A spring jaw securedby its upper end adjacent to the up per end of the upright and theabutment and is designed to pinion the animal against the abutment. Ashere shown, this jaw is formed of spring wire which is secured at 0* onthe inside of the housing 0, extends upwardly, forming a cylindricalspring coil 0 at the top, thence extends downwardly to form the springjaw 0 having a vertical wire member on each side, and a connectingmember at the bottom. As shown, the spring jaw is covered with acovering plate Specification of Letters Patent.

1 c to form a larger bearing surface.

Patented Dec. 1%, 1912.

Serial No. 621,242.

A horizontally disposed trigger 9 adjacent to the lower end of thespring jaw engages with the jaw. 'As here shown, the trigger g isadjacent to the base, and occupies when down the space between the sidepieces a. It is pivoted at at one end of the base and has a catch 9 onits upper side which engages an extension f on the lower end of thespring jaw. When the trigger g is raised, the extension f engages thecatch 9, and when the trigger is depressed by the weight of an animal orotherwise the spring jaw is forced against the abutment pinioning theanimal and crushing it againstthe abutment. This trap may be used withor without bait, but if bait is to be used, 1 provided a cylindricalholder (Z which fits with in the coil 0 and extends across the top ofthe trap. The holder has a slot (Z in its under side, and a stopper d atone end. The smell of the bait coming through the slot (Z will attractthe attention of the animal and cause it to step on the trigger.

In Figs. 3 and 4:, I have shown a modified form of my trap constructedlargely of wire. The base it is made of a piece of sheet metal with astiffening flange turned down on each side. The upright member is formedof a double wire 2', secured to one end of the base at 2' one uprightwire on each side of the base. Each wire extends upward forming a coilspring 2" at the top, and thence downwardly, forming the spring jaw F,the two side wires of the jaw uniting at the bottom. Thus the twouprights, the springs, and the jaw are formed of a single piece ofspringwire. The abutment against which the spring jaw acts, is formed of asingle piece of wire, doubled to form two upright members, one on eachside, these extending up are secured to the wire 2' at a point near thetop. A cross piece i unites the two coils and strengthens the upperportion of the trap. The trigger is as here shown, is formed of a stripof sheet metal pivoted at one end of the base, and extending through thelower portion of the jaw between the side wires thereof. It has a catch70 on the under side adapted to catch the lower end of the jaw. When thetrigger is depressed, the jaw is released and swings over against theabutment. It will be seen that both the jaw and the abutment have twoparallel wires, so that the animal is pinioned firmly between the twopairs of wires and is instantly killed.

This trap having a horizontally disposed trigger or platform and aninclosedspace above the platformcan be set in a run way on the surfacewhere animals travel, or it may be set in a subterranean passage bydigging down from the top and lowering the trap into the passage. It isan efficient device for trapping gophers, rats, muskrats, and othersmall animals and may be made for large animals as well.

It will be seen that in the form of trap shown in Figs. 1 and 2 thelower end of 1 the spring jaw is guided in its movement by the sidepieces a, and in the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the jaw is guided bylateral edges of the trigger.

I claim:

An animal trap comprising a base, a wire v upright at one end of thebase bent at the top to form a spring coil, a spring jaw connected withsaid coil, a sheet metal housing secured to one end of the baseextending over the top, a portion of said housing constituting anabutment to cooperate with said spring jaw, a trigger adapted to engagesaid spring jaw, and a bait holding cylinder eX- tending through saidcoil.

In testimony whereof I have afliXed my signature, in presence of twowitnesses.

, CHARLES L. KAUFMAN. Witnesses:

S. W. BATES, C. B. CREIGHTON.

Gopie: c-i this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

